This was the moment she waited for—the escape from everything else in her world. Seeing you. Sure, it was through the discreet walls of a brothel, with a price tag attached, but that didn’t make it any less worth it to her. She’d hand over every bit of her earnings just for a few hours in your company. She knew you wouldn’t refuse her if she asked to meet somewhere outside of work, but Sevika liked the privacy this arrangement offered. It felt like a separate world where nothing else could intrude.

A wad of cash hit the bed with a soft thud as she shut the door behind her, exhaling a long, weary sigh. Her eyes swept over you, taking in every familiar curve and detail before she settled in next to you. She stretched out on her back, sinking into the comfort of the mattress, though she looked different tonight.

Her makeshift arm was missing. Maybe it malfunctioned, or maybe something worse happened. You weren’t sure, and she wasn’t in the mood to explain right away.

Sevika sighed again, her head tipping back against the pillow, her features softening as she turned to glance at you. The sharp edges of her usual demeanor seemed dulled by exhaustion. You noticed her hair, freshly cut short, and damn, it suited her.

“Hell of a day,” she muttered, her tone dry but laced with just a hint of humor. She gestured toward the missing arm with a shrug. “You’re lucky I’m right-handed.” A smirk tugged at her lips, teasing but tired, the kind of smirk that carried the weight of everything she wasn’t saying.